How to Say Boy and Girl in Japanese

The writing on this Manga says,"Bokutachi Otoko no ko"

It is easy to learn the words for boy and girl in Japanese. First, however we need to know the words for man and woman, then by adding, "no ko", we can change man and woman into boy and girl.

The word for man is otoko (男)

The word for woman is onna (女)


The word for boy is otoko no ko.

The word for girl is onna no ko.


Ko is the word for child or infant and its' kanji looks like this - 子.

In kanji the word for boy is 男 の 子 - otoko no ko.

In kanji the word for girl is 女 の 子 - onna no ko.


Towards Better Japanese
Ganbatte ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki

How to Get Somebody's Phone Number in Japanese



A Japanese Pay Phone

 Let's say, you are in Japan, and you meet a new friend and want to get their phone number. Before we learn the phrase, we must first understand that they will not be telling us their phone number, they will be instead teaching us their phone number.

The phrase for, "please tell me your phone number" in Japanese is -

電話 番号 を 教えて 下さい
denwa bango o oshiete kudasai - please teach me your phone number.

The keyword here is oshieru or the verb to teach.



Towards Better Japanese
Ganbatte ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki

How to Tell Time in Japanese Part II

To say, "What time is it?" in Japanese say
Nanji desu ka?

If it is eight thirty you can then answer with the word now or ima 今
Ima hachiji han desu (今 八時半 です) - It is now eight thirty.

The word we use in Japanese to indicate that it is half past the hour is han or 半
The hour counter in Japanese is ji or 時

ichiji han - 1:30
niji han - 2:30
sanji han - 3:30
yoji han - 4:30
goji han - 5:30
rokuji han - 6:30
shichiji han - 7:30
hachiji han - 8:30
kuji han - 9:30
juuji han - 10:30
juuichiji han - 11:30
juuniji han - 12:30

nanji? - What hour? or What time is it?
何時 - What hour? or What time is it?

一 時 半 - 1:30
二 時 半 - 2:30
三 時 半 - 3:30
四 時 半 - 4:30
五 時 半 - 5:30
六 時 半 - 6:30
七 時 半 - 7:30
八 時 半 - 8:30
九 時 半 - 9:30
十 時 半 - 10:30
十一 時 半 - 11:30
十二 時 半 - 12:30

Towards Better Japanese Ganbatte ne! Do Your Best! Makurasuki